Smyrna

“Best meals I've ever had. This is definitely a bucket list place! It was so good the first visit, that I had to go back the next day to try more. Save room for dessert! Get a reservation well ahead of time. Do it right online. Drinks - Unknown Pleasures, Smyrna Sour, Santiago, Pepperontini, Espresso martini, a Then Kola with Myers Dark. Unknown Pleasures was a refreshing light airy citrus drink which paired exceptionally nice with my starters. Smyrna Sour, It's exceptionally rare to find places who still hold to the traditional crafts, especially regarding egg white froth. This did not disappoint. It hit all the strictly traditional notes with the creamy mouth feel I expect, but the sweet pomegranate syrup made me want to lick the bottom of the glass. The Santiago reminded me of the Hemingway daiquiri, which is favorite, and I really appreciated the of Flor de Cana Ron (rum) as I just recently got back from visiting Nicaragua! When I was trying to ease off the alcohol I tried the house made Kola. My wife wouldn't have liked it because it was very sweet. I personally loved the sugar and exotic spice flavors so much that when I came back I had them add some dark rum to it. Wow! That was such a great drink! Starters - Sour Cherry Gazpacho (both days,) Beet Ribbons (both days,) Raki Balik The Sour Cherry Gazpacho was tangy and refreshing. The fresno peppers and goat cheese really helped balance it out with a surprise glimmer of heat or fat depending on the bite! The Beet Ribbons were a great way to start. There was a luxurious pile of beet ribbons with blackberries to pair for sweet sour enhancements, Hazel nut, cacao...and did I taste a hint of horseradish...helped keep every bite interesting in both flavor and texture. I really loved the cheese on this and could have eaten a pile of that on its own! The bitter greens were a nice touch and kept it all from being too heavy and beety. Munchies - Calamari, Lamb Meatballs - These were both amazing enough on their own to be the stars of the show, but they were just the start! The first night I had the calamari with the Lamb main. My second night I had the Lamb Meatballs with the Fish main. The calamari was hot, fresh, and tender. I actually had to slow down my pace because I could tell it had just come out of the fryer. The tartar sauce was good enough to eat with a spoon. I generally don't prefer tarter sauce but this was thick and creamy without that cheap pickle flavor I expect. It almost tasted like it had a hint of sweet; an almost chocolaty aroma which paired amazingly. The lamb meatballs should not be missed! They reminded of being in London after a night of drinking and finding that special hole in the wall for something filling. The lamb had a beautiful caramelized cook, but it was still juicy. The juices and flavor were contained with a fluffy pita which had a full coating of yogurt sauce. As I'm writing this I can still smell them in my mind! Mains - Market fish: Halibut, Lamb Wellington The Lamb Wellington was definitely in my top, and I've had Gordon Ramsey make me a Wellington. He should come try this! It was plated beautifully as well. The meet was exceptionally tender and juicy. The lamb was a very high quality and didn't have an overpowering gamey flavor. The sea salt added the perfect amount of flavor and texture. I'm also not usually a fan of asparagus, but I could have gone back for seconds. It was small, tender, and the jus tied it to the Wellington. The Market Fish was Halibut. It had a golden crispy crunch to the sear, but the inside was soft and flaky. It was seasoned perfectly and tasted like it was just flown in fresh from Alaska. The orzo was loaded with shrimp and mussels. Probably the most heavy and filling thing I ate and it almost made me too full for dessert. Desserts - Meyer Lemon Granita, Baklava Cheesecake Baklava Cheesecake needs a new name. It's way better than cheesecake or Baklava. I ate it in 4 bites! The Granita was such an inspired dessert. It floated across my tongue and was a light finish to a heavy meal.”

“This place is one of the best restaurants Ive ever eaten at. Bartender was phenomenal. I wish I had more hands so I could give them 4 thumbs up. Great work 👍”

“My husband and I came into town for the weekend for a concert. We ended up coming here 3 times in 1 weekend, that’s how amazing the food and service was! The food is so fresh and flavorful and the service was impeccable! Everyone was so attentive and kind. 10/10 highly recommend. We did get there right when they opened and sat at the bar. Definitely recommend making a reservation if you want a table.”

“My family and I had a wonderful experience here for dinner. It was out first time and we wanted to try everything...and we did :) The staff was kind, patient, and very knowledgeable. He helped us make selections and coursed everything out for us in perfect time. The mezze trio, beet salad and hamachi crudo were delish! Possibly the best beet salad I've EVER had. And I can't say enough about the manti pasta...you must visit if you're in town.”

“Absolutely delicious food…craveable flavor! The manta dumplings are insanely good! My wife had the burger and said it was by far the best she ver had - such a great flavor & so juicy! The drinks were great as well!”